[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "can%20you%20pull%20together%20a%20list%20of%20short%20story%20competitions%20in%20the%20UK"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s a curated list of UK-based short story competitions currently open (or recently open) as of April 2026. If you're thinking of entering, double-check the contest websites for the most up-to-date information (deadlines, fees, eligibility etc.).\n\n---\n\n## Major / National Competitions\n\n| Competition | Key Details |\n|---|---|\n| **Bridport Prize \u2013 Short Story** | Up to *5,000 words*; entry fee \u00a315. Deadline: 23:59 UK time on **31 May 2026**. ([bridportprize.org.uk](https://bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/short-story/?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **BBC National Short Story Award** | Prestigious UK award for a single short-story (no fee). Up to **8,000 words**. Open to UK residents/nationals. Usually held annually. ([reddit.com](https://www.reddit.com/r/literarycontests/comments/1qj1szk/short_story_mar_16_2026_bbc_national_short_story/?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Commonwealth Short Story Prize** | For unpublished fiction of **2,000\u20135,000 words**. Regional winners & overall winner. Open to Commonwealth citizens. Previous deadline was November 1, 2025; check for 2026/27 info. ([ukscholarships.uk](https://www.ukscholarships.uk/scholarships/2026-commonwealth-short-story-prize?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Edge Hill Short Story Prize** | Prize for a published short-story collection from a UK or Ireland publisher. Prizes include **\u00a310,000** for the main winner. Entry for published collections only. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_Hill_Short_Story_Prize?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Mslexia Short Story Competition** | For women writers. Short stories and flash fiction. Entries need to be unpublished. Previous deadlines were in mid-2025; check for 2026 dates. ([mslexia.co.uk](https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/competitions-policy/?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\n## Regional / Themed & Smaller Competitions\n\n| Competition | Key Details |\n|---|---|\n| **Fowey Festival Short Story Competition** | Theme example: *\u201cAfter Midnight\u201d*. Maximum **1,500 words**. Deadline was **5pm on 20 March 2026** for submissions. Open to those 16+. ([foweyfestival.com](https://www.foweyfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Short-Story-TCs.pdf?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Southlands Creative Writing Competition** | Fiction/short story & life writing categories. Max **2,000 words**. Deadline: **Midnight 31 July 2026**. Entry fee ~\u00a33 per category, \u00a35 for both. Some fee-waivers for under-18s or low-income entrants. ([southlandsarts.co.uk](https://www.southlandsarts.co.uk/creative-writing-competition-2026/?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize** | Open to unpublished stories. Deadline for entry was **1 April 2026**. Sponsored / reduced fee places available through partner orgs. ([desperateliterature.com](https://desperateliterature.com/elegibility-conditions/?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\nIf you'd like, I can pull up a broader list\u2014including smaller local competitions, themed calls, or ones for specific genres (e.g. crime, fantasy). Do you want me to send that?"
    }
]